FG hinges housing deficit on ineffective policy implementation

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has traced Nigeria’s housing shortfall to several factors, including ineffective implementation of past policies, and underperformance in housing delivery.

Dangiwa, who made the assertion at the 90th anniversary and fundraising for Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) secretariat in Abuja, enumerated a poorly developed housing market, an untapped secondary mortgage system, and wider macroeconomic challenges.

He congratulated the association on its remarkable milestone.

From land surveys to geospatial analyses, surveyors provide critical data and insights that guide decision-making processes in construction, infrastructure development, and resource management in the country.

“Your enduring commitment to professionalism and excellence has undoubtedly contributed to Nigeria’s growth and development over the decades. This has made surveying to play a fundamental role in land administration, and development of urban planning,” he noted.

The minister submitted that surveyors are essential in ensuring that construction projects are not only accurately planned and executed, but also ensure that land use is effectively managed to prevent conflicts and promote sustainable urban development.

“Our country is currently facing a severe housing deficit. The shortage of affordable housing is a major challenge to our quest for integrated and sustainable urban development, and addressing this issue must be a priority for all stakeholders in the built environment,” he added.

Earlier, NIS President, Dr Matthew Ibitoye, stressed on the celebration’s theme: “90 Years of Mapping Progress: Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future,” stating that their contributions were indispensable to the growth and development that shaped the landscape of the country.

He said: “Our journey began in 1934 with the coming together of five eminent surveyors, Herbert Macauley, Bengan Benjamin, George Agbebi, Emmanuel Aiyede and Cyprain Theodosius Olumide, under the umbrella of Association of Licensed Surveyors (ALS).”

According to him, they are the architects of land boundaries, infrastructure and even governance, as the knowledge and data they provide help to transform the policies and direction, as well as laying the foundation of rail track, road and new towns and cities in Nigeria.